Thanks so much for that comment. There is a place for everything and everybody under the huge (and getting huger) umbrella of image making, lens based or not. As artists, we need to find our audience (they are out there) and find the venues that show work that makes us individually sing.
Some will say photography is becoming more specialized or that categories are increasing to fit all that fits in. It's splintering I think.
Prediction: AIPAD goes back to card tables and peg boards. I don't mean that literally (!!!) Maybe just back to basics, classic if you will.
I’m not too sure about the small galleries outside NYC. The two I know of, one in Charlotte and one in Asheville started off well, exhibiting photography and even representing a few local photographers. Great start that faded rapidly, now the one in Charlotte, SOCO gallery now mostly shows painters. The Asheville gallery also shows mainly non-photographic works.
I think you are right in the case of AIPAD, back to card tables and peg board walls to show works. Or, if Les Krims is still around, out of the trunk of his car.
Once the old guard of gallerists retire or pass away like John Cleary, there are only so many second chair folks who will be able to afford the costs of taking over a gallery and making it successful business.
I looked into it when I retired from the MFAH in 2015 and moved to the Charlotte area, but realized quickly that the area had very little interest in photography. The Mint Museum has very little interest in showing photography, the Light Factory is failing rapidly because of the lack of interest in the field. No community interest, no high traffic Art district, vastly overpriced rent, and only one or two real collectors in the Charlotte area. Perhaps if I was in the Triangle area, but I think Frank Konhaus of Cassilhaus has that area covered, but then he really doesn’t present himself as a gallery, more of an arts venue.
Frustrating, but it saved a lot of money spent without reward. I needed the money for my retirement…
I too have dedicated my career to art photography and assisting other photographers in developing their voice , skills. and art around photography. I owned and operated a physical gallery on Long Island from 2007 - 2020 ( closed after the pandemic due to lack of foot traffic). We re-opened ONLINE and are reaching new artists and new collectors. Check us out .. PhotoArtPavilion.com.
I’m grateful for these perspectives which need a more amplified voice. I went to AIPAD a handful of years ago and aside from drooling over the Todd Hido’s and such, what I began seeing too much of were photos that, in an elaborate manner of speaking, any idiot could take. For example, there was a stunning image of a cheetah atop a rock overlooking an African savanna printed and toned to look antique. The price tag was HIGH. But when I asked the gallerist about it, he admitted the photographer snapped a pic of the Museum of Natural History diorama and sepia toned it. Where’s the value in a really tough photo to capture nowadays? I felt the same about so much photo based art as well. It absolutely has its place and it deserves a spot in the greater market, but the images they’re based on are quite basic, but with layers of digital illustration and “concept” speaking louder than the image itself. Maybe I’m just old school, but it’s exactly old school image making that I sorely miss and lament its fading from view.
Thanks so much for that comment. There is a place for everything and everybody under the huge (and getting huger) umbrella of image making, lens based or not. As artists, we need to find our audience (they are out there) and find the venues that show work that makes us individually sing.
Some will say photography is becoming more specialized or that categories are increasing to fit all that fits in. It's splintering I think.
Prediction: AIPAD goes back to card tables and peg boards. I don't mean that literally (!!!) Maybe just back to basics, classic if you will.
I agree, I always looked forward to the yearly AIPAD catalogue. It was a primary source of who represented who.
As for the young new gallerists, few if any specialize in photographs. And few if any can afford the overhead, especially in a location like New York.
Michael,
I’m not too sure about the small galleries outside NYC. The two I know of, one in Charlotte and one in Asheville started off well, exhibiting photography and even representing a few local photographers. Great start that faded rapidly, now the one in Charlotte, SOCO gallery now mostly shows painters. The Asheville gallery also shows mainly non-photographic works.
I think you are right in the case of AIPAD, back to card tables and peg board walls to show works. Or, if Les Krims is still around, out of the trunk of his car.
Once the old guard of gallerists retire or pass away like John Cleary, there are only so many second chair folks who will be able to afford the costs of taking over a gallery and making it successful business.
I looked into it when I retired from the MFAH in 2015 and moved to the Charlotte area, but realized quickly that the area had very little interest in photography. The Mint Museum has very little interest in showing photography, the Light Factory is failing rapidly because of the lack of interest in the field. No community interest, no high traffic Art district, vastly overpriced rent, and only one or two real collectors in the Charlotte area. Perhaps if I was in the Triangle area, but I think Frank Konhaus of Cassilhaus has that area covered, but then he really doesn’t present himself as a gallery, more of an arts venue.
Frustrating, but it saved a lot of money spent without reward. I needed the money for my retirement…
Best,
Del Zogg
Michael,
I too have dedicated my career to art photography and assisting other photographers in developing their voice , skills. and art around photography. I owned and operated a physical gallery on Long Island from 2007 - 2020 ( closed after the pandemic due to lack of foot traffic). We re-opened ONLINE and are reaching new artists and new collectors. Check us out .. PhotoArtPavilion.com.
https://photoartpavilion.com/about/
https://photoartpavilion.substack.com/
I would really enjoy chatting with you further.
Joanne Henig
I’m grateful for these perspectives which need a more amplified voice. I went to AIPAD a handful of years ago and aside from drooling over the Todd Hido’s and such, what I began seeing too much of were photos that, in an elaborate manner of speaking, any idiot could take. For example, there was a stunning image of a cheetah atop a rock overlooking an African savanna printed and toned to look antique. The price tag was HIGH. But when I asked the gallerist about it, he admitted the photographer snapped a pic of the Museum of Natural History diorama and sepia toned it. Where’s the value in a really tough photo to capture nowadays? I felt the same about so much photo based art as well. It absolutely has its place and it deserves a spot in the greater market, but the images they’re based on are quite basic, but with layers of digital illustration and “concept” speaking louder than the image itself. Maybe I’m just old school, but it’s exactly old school image making that I sorely miss and lament its fading from view.